League round-up: Shittu makes amends to revive Hornets

Deposed as Championship leaders by Stoke City on Friday night, Watford missed the chance to regain the summit when, despite a thrilling fightback, they had to settle for a 2-2 draw at The Valley with Charlton Athletic, themselves struggling to make contact with the top two.

The Hornets conceded twice in the first half as fifth-placed Charlton threatened to run away with the match. Darren Ambrose thumped in the first after 15 minutes, and just past the half-hour Danny Shittu turned Greg Halford's cross into his own net.

How to respond? "I told them that fighting back from 2-0 down was what winning championships was all about," Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd said.

The Hornets took his advice and struck twice within two minutes. After 54 minutes John-Joe O'Toole pulled a goal back and almost immediately Shittu made amends with the equaliser.

Alan Pardew, the Charlton manager, thought his side had been victims of "soft decisions" but admitted, "We can't afford too many more draws or defeats if we are going to win automatic promotion."

Ipswich Town's grip on a play-off place tightened when their new Macedonian midfielder, Velice Sumulikoski, and Jonathan Walters scored early in the second half to set up a 2-1 defeat of Blackpool at Portman Road.

"He has brought composure, experience and knowledge in a very important area of the pitch," Ipswich manager Jim Magilton said of his recent purchase, "and he definitely has goals in him. It was a great strike."

The Seasiders were hampered by the loss of centre-backs Ian Evatt and Michael Jackson to first-half injuries. "This is the last place you want that to happen," Pool manager Simon Grayson said ruefully, "after the Nou Camp."

Norwich City's 13-match unbeaten run was ended in emphatic fashion, a 4-0 defeat at the hitherto inconsistent Leicester City. Ian Holloway's side took the lead in the 22nd minute when Iain Hume forced in Joe Mattock's cross. A Steve Howard strike made it 2-0 before Canaries midfielder Darel Russell was sent off on the hour. Goals by DJ Campbell and man-of-the-match Stephen Clemence completed the rout. "At last the players had a day they can enjoy," a relieved Holloway said. "When we score first we are not a bad team, but when we concede first we are pigging awful."

Colchester United earned a point from a 1-1 draw at Hull City. Johnnie Jackson's half-volley two minutes into the second half put the Us ahead, but Frazier Campbell's diving header from a Jay Jay Okocha cross levelled.

Bottom hosted top in League One with a predictable result as Jason Scotland scored both goals in Swansea City's 2-0 win over Port Vale. The Swans lead is now 11 points.

Nottingham Forest's quest to claim the second automatic place prospered when Nathan Tyson's goal was enough to beat Swindon Town 1-0, and Tranmere Rovers beat Millwall 2-0 to move up to fifth.

A good day for strugglers in League Two. Second-placed Darlington lost 2-1 at home to Mansfield Town, who stay lodged in the bottom two. A place above them, Dagenham & Redbridge won 4-1 at Grimsby Town and Bury won 2-1 away to Stockport.